Zinke, Tranel offer differing ideas on housing crunch

Republican Rep. Ryan Zinke and his Democratic challenger, Monica Tranel, don’t agree on much, but the two repeat rivals for western Montana’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives agree that one issue that comes up frequently on the campaign trail is affordable and available housing, or the lack thereof, in western Montana.

While housing prices have risen nationwide, a recent report found that Montana has the fastest-growing housing market in the country. The chasm between supply and demand is even more stark in Missoula, Bozeman and the Flathead Valley — all within the western House district. In Missoula, according to the Montana Regional MLS, the median sale price for a home has jumped from $419,535 in January 2021 to more than $549,000 in June of this year. During the same time period in Flathead County, it’s gone from $385,000 to $682,000. Rents have also gone up, especially in resort communities like Whitefish, where short-term rentals have become a popular investment. 

“It’s a big issue in the western House district, since it’s where some of the most expensive housing is,” said Nathan Dugan, president of Shelter WF, a Whitefish-based nonprofit that advocates for affordable housing.